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mutant

Disturbing films: name some and why you list them

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I am a fan of extreme cinema horror / weird you name it ...

I will only name one film for now, that I have stated that it is probably (and so far!) the most disturbing of the most disturbing films of all time, "A Serbian film" (2010)

Dont rush to watch it if you havent seen Saw, hostel and other extreme horror films of the so called "torture/revenge" subgenre or in generally not having been prepared.

This is perhaps related with the subject:

what other films are like Saw/Hostel/Cube etc ....

===

will definately come back with some recommendations if there is interest

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Not a horror movie but the new flick " 12 years a slave " really hits you in the guts . Let the tears well , resistance is futile.

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non horror

requiem for a dream

apocalypse now

also

black swan from aronofski, this hit me hard even though I have no interest for ballet and so...

=

videodrome

the fly

funny games

horror splatter

the saw franchise

hostel franshise

of course

Hellraiser 1-4

the french

MARTYRS

TBC

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Salo is pretty sick. Watched drunk at a mates house over 15 years ago an still regret it.

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Gummo. Enough said.

hahahaha yeap

HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES

Edited by bullit
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Return to Oz.

(You know why.)

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Bad boy bubby (incest and animal cruelty). Its about a guy who lives with his mum in Adelaide

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The Killer Inside Me - Didn't even finish watching it. Violence against women makes me want to get violent against men :ana:

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An older couple of movies but still pretty cool,Cannibal holocaust and jungle holocaust,And a Asian movie that made me spew was called "grotesque" its pretty full on. The last house on the left remake was pretty gruesome. Salo is pretty fucked up, you wont find it at a video store lol.

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Also "Martyrs" is decently violent

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"Guinea Pig" - Probably the most effective gore special effects I've ever seen. (ETA: actually I think it was Guinea Pig 2. Haven't seen the others.)

"Slaughtered Vomit Dolls" - Not as realistic as Guinea Pig, but worth mentioning for the title alone.

ETA: Oh, and while not horror, "Pink Flamingos" is pretty disturbing.

Edited by ballzac

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Black Mirror - not a movie, but a series of shorter films. And not "horror" in the normal sense of "gore-based thriller", rather (as the name suggests), holding up a mirror to the darker aspects of our society, where the true horrors are. Reminded me alot of Funny Games - I had to stop watching after the first few because I found them too disturbing.

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Hey, I am glad there's interest in this subject, as I am not drunk like I was yesterday.

Extreme films

Reviews, opinions, suggestions

First of all, I would love it if we all kept the spoilers at a minimum. Dont bother to say: "I spit on your grave - rape scene" (and I am only giving this away because I spit on your grave is the most notorious rape film) - if you do like to be more analytical about your film experience, then by all means try not to reveal the whole plot, plot twists and important aspects of the film experience, for those who might haven't watched even the classics.

If you only mention one film, then please tell us why you chose this, what was the source of disturbance and how did it make you feel in retrospect?

It would be helpful if you also mentioned if you are a seasoned fan of extreme/disturbing cinema and/or thriller/horror. Non-horror suggestions are of course welcomed but because I not only want to discuss suggestions, but also why people watch extreme films and what they take from them, or what are the reactions of someone not so used to extreme cinema when he watches a disturbing film without expecting it to be so disturbing.

That implies the seasoned fan like say, me, is not so easily impressed, having seen it all, but people who are not horror fans and not used to these kinds of films, might also have to tell us something interesting from a different point of view, for a film that might not even be horror.

So coming to thriller/horror/splatter genre

I like to believe that apart from a sick fan of most kind of extreme cinema (and at least interested to be aware of every sick act of mankind) I can also appreaciate every kind of film genre and consider my self a cine-phil with a dislike for mainstream and hollywood, but one that can enjoy hollywood flicks too. On the other hand, after the rise of Saw franchise and Hostel, die-hard horror and splatter fans started showing a snobbish turn against what they claimed was mainstream US horror and favoured non-US horror. This post-Hostel era indeed brought some french splatters in the picture, from those which I eagerly went out to see, I was impressed only by two Martyrs and Dans ma Peau (2002), the latter notably written directed and starred by a woman.

I guess what I want to say is that I have been watching lots of films of that sub-genre called torture porn. Indeed these film's most basic purpose is to shock. And most of them manage to deliver the shock / disturbing factor in one way or another. The point is: are they impressive? are they powerful? are they smart? and so on.... do they have depth? are the characters and plot bnelievable? etc.

I was horrified by watching Requiem for a dream, especially the second half. My mood was completely twisted while watching this film, from very cheerful and playful enjoying the tight editing and sound department, to moody and silent after the end. Its also interesting to ask people for whom of the heros they felt more for. People are diveded between the girl and the old lady, but for me it was definately the old lady.

I started watching thrillers and horror in a older age than most, still, I had seen Aliens when I was 10, at the cinema and was definately scared. Reason? my parents were not like that, and we did not even have a videoplayer at the early days. SO the first truly horrific films I remember is from the tender age of 12-13, and the films are Hellraiser and Hellraiser II, as well as the techno-surreralistic and definately not-for-kids Videodrome (1983) of the aclaimed director David Cronenberg of which I am a huge fan.

After these I knew I was a splatter fan, but wouldn't know why until many years later, when I started thinking about the whole thing philosophically , like "why do we like to watch violent films like horror etc?"

All in all, I have a big interest on cinema and even though I am not always looking for the next extreme film, I tend to do researches from time to time to see what this sick world had produced since I last checked. I will try to involve some of the most important films in the "most disturbing" list.

MY LIST

Men behind the sun (1988)

This is a notorious film you might want to check out. It different because its chinese and it pretty much exploitativly tries to depict some of the monstrosities the japanese commited against Chinese people, giving a pseudo-documentary point of view. It's so effective, because its different and its cold, definately a mean movie that will leave many with that 'dirty' feeling of "what the fuck did I watch that for?" . With relatively few but powerful gore scenes, it sure deserves its place in the lists of this kind over the globe.

Salo (120 days in Sodoma) (1975) [mentioned by others]

I haven't seen this film for years, and I can't say with certainty I could process all this alegorical political comment the film supposedly made back then, but I can say one thing: believe the hype! this is definately STILL one of the most disturbing films of all time.

Martyrs (2008) [mentioned by others]

This is a powerful disturbing film, an example of the non-US specimens of the splatter torture genre. Many accuse the film of being simple shock and violent exploitation, but personally the film did it for me, its a very unpleasant filming experience, but one that manages to stay with you, at the end of the day the film does have brains.. anyways it did it for me: it is a different , well-made horror film, definately standing up to its fame.

In my skin (2002)

The other french film that gets in my list, a film made my a woman, this alone should be interesting enouigh. Unlike other uninspired french attempts at the genre, this one has definately brains , is well acted and is wonderfully weird. Quite unique and fucked up film, its curiosities definately make it one of a kind.

Grotesque (2009) [mentioned by others]

This film prooves in a way the stereotype that japanese rule at the fucked up domain. Remember when I said "Men behind the sun" was cold and cruel? Well you haven't seen anything at serious asian splatter/torture porn until you see Grotesque. This film is the definition of torture porn. And this is not a sploiler, just a general plot keyword. This film is as poweful as they get, very gory, and relentless , the lack of insight into the characters acts in advantage of the film. Okey, okey. This has to be said. This film is wrong. This film makes you feel dirty for watching it. Why are you watching it. Yet it's a film that is well made and easily archieves what it aims for, with few other films leaving such impact. Hands down, Grotesque is one of the most extreme films ever made, a free pass in any list of disturbing films, for the "lucky" that have seen it.

Hostel part 2 (2007)

Unlike this most, I guess from the shouting crowd, I find Hostel 2 a terrific film. Hostel is decent, but compared to part 2 its a walk in the park. hands down, this is one of the most exciting films in the genre. With awesome acting , deeper characters and wide perspective of the whole concept we only briefly saw in part 1. The way I see it, you feel dirty for watching Hostel as well, but its different: you feel dirty because you enjoyed the experience. Never mind the naysayers. Hostel series is a great and certainly largely influencial horror saga. Part 2 easily is one of the most disturbing films of all time, well made and awesomely paced, with all the twists and even the few funny bits, but make sure you see Hostel 1 first. Hostel 3 is pretty watchable if you're a fan, with a couple fun new ideas.

Saw SAGA (2004 - 2010)

Say whatever you say, I am a lover of all kind of extreme horror and I loved it. Actually it struck me pretty well as "Seven" gone seriously splatter and then more. I regard Saw with all the sequels a MEGA movie, and it can be watched and enjoyed as such. Like with Hostel, these films were both critisized for being exploitative and overviolent but also of being mainstream and not scary by hardcore fans of euro splatter or japanese splatter. These films are pretty well acted, well made, gore is planty and well made and this time we have some justification for the tortures, hence the parallel with seven: the victims are sinners. Anyways, I understand people are not able to watch films for hours , but you should watch all to understand the story. I cannot chose one favourite, propably with have to be part 1 , of course, but also 3 and 4? they're all good. many might feel the sequels messed the plot a bit , but if you take the patience to watch all of them, it pretty much fits... Saw saga, with so many intense scenes and twists and games, and so many well made scenes of gore, has definately a position of the most disturbing film-series of all time.

Shoguns.Sadism(AKA Oxen Split Torturing) (1976)

Japanese film ,an archetypical japanese exploitation with horror and nudity. I dont know which fact is more disturbing, the fact that the film actually has plot and some good acting, or that all these serve as a mask for the shocks coming. Impressive, for the age and interesting for the asian take on exploitation. Perhaps the less disturbing of the list so far?

Street Trash (1987) [mentioned by others]

This is a pretty much known film in the splatter crowd. I haven't watched it for many years now. I remember it was awesomely made , fast and all, and that it had OK gore, but I remember that the ridiculously open exploitation overtone bothered me. I remember it had some homophobic tones in some dialogues, and also racism with hobo's. I should watch again to refresh my memory probably. Whatever the case, this is a legendary film and the only reason for it not being in such a list is that its also a pretty funny/smart/ironic in some way film.

House of 1000 Corpses (2002) was mentioned

and its a pretty good example of the genre, with some of the sickest bad guys

and it has a sequel , also good, The devils Rejects (2005)

these two are pretty disturbing

I should also say

I split on you grave (2010) - the remake

Much better overall from the original and an exciting watch

The last house on the left (2009) - the remake

I haven't seen the original for a while, but I like the remake a lot more. Lots of decent actors , tightest story , a winner.

Guinea Pig 1+2 [mentioned by others]

The two first part are serious and made, especially the 1st, as fake snuff films, and are particularly disturbing to see, but not really interesting or whatever as films. The next Guinea Pigs which are also funny and more weird than horrific sometimes are way more interesting than the first two shockers of the series... But yeah, hands down, this series and especially the first two episodes definately belong to the lists of the most disturbing films.

Dread (2009)

based on a Clive Barker Story that I loved from early years, I suppose it's better to watch the film not knowing the story, as always. Pretty well made, I was not disatisfied, this is a pretty wicked and intense film, and this is something, considering I had big expectations from the film loving the short story its based for.

and one that I saw recently to close the list for now...

The Woman (2011)

Wow, this is a great find, a great shocker, with solid performances, this is definately not your average torture horror. This one liner review from imdb sums it up " DIsgusting , Perverse and Thought Provoking". I could say much more, like, it reminded me more of films of Todd Solondz, with that black as fuck humour, that many fail to grasp at all, only this is more in the horror side. Whatever the case, this film works and is pretty original. Definately a powerful shocker.

Edited by mutant
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I so much thank you all for the suggestions for stuff I did not know.... Will check out....

fuck what did you remind me: XTRO, I saw that when I was young, I dont remember much I remember it had some splatter scene or two, but dont remember wut, now I have to see.

another legendary rape scene is in the awesome cult classic Galaxy of terror (1981), but I would not put that in the list with the most disturbing films, even though its an awesome little sci-fi horror shocker. Sometimes open exploitative tone like the prettiest woman of the crew raped by a giant worm do not work in favour of the seriousness, but in favour of the cheesiness. That's what I would expect (remember?) from Xtro.

But y'know different stomachs...

EG>>

Eden Lake I know and not have high hopes, haven't seen yet. should I?

what about Frontiers + Period ? I cant find those...

Edited by mutant

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definately have to be in the list, and I mention because they were mentioned....

The human centipede [mentioned by others]

yeah, that definately gets in my list. It manages to be pretty sick with very little gore. Original and weird, a winner. Definately a film that has a mean and strangely exploitative - provocative tone. Didn't like part 2, poorly made, unconvincing acting, the "experiment" didn't work for me. Lets hope part 3 will really be what the director claims!

Cannibal Holocaust [mentioned by others]

This is often mentioned by many people as the most disturbing film they have seen. Like with Salo, believe the hype, this film is legendary for a reason. This is the school of italian horror exploitation at the 80s when they killed animals on camera to increase the shock value. Many more like it, f.e. Cannibal ferox which is considerably more ridiculous and lots less believable to the point of camp. I am not sure I have seen jungle holocaust, but I doubt some of the jungle/cannibal horror beats the king.

5150 Rue des Ormes (2009)

Awesome french-canadian mystery-thriller-horror . Original and , yep, disturbing, despite the underlying black humour . Well made film!

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grotesque made me want to masturbate and spew at the same time. I cannot watch it again. horribly realistic. im getting weaker with blood and guts as I get older.

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Blue Velvet really affected me. It was mostly the character Frank Booth who got to me. Psychotic, sociopathic, drug-hound with a insatiable taste for sexual violence and ruthless manipulation.

Even just writing this makes me squirm a little bit.

I'm not someone who can easily watch disturbing films. I avoid them completely now because themes and characters from such films used to enter my dreamstate and mess with me for prolonged periods of time afterwards.

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Has pink flamingo been mentioned?

Yes :lol:
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lol

I regard most of the early works of John Waters materpieces, comedies and very feel good films. I could never see them in the category of films we're talking here. But hey, it's subjective. for what it's worth, I thought 'female trouble' and 'desparate living' were far better that what pink flammingos. But I love most of the director output nevertheless.

re>Ceres>Blue Vlevet> was it the Dennis Hopper character? I remember he was mean and unpredictable. Boy I should watch this film again sometime.

more films on my list

Stoic (2009)

I watched this after seeing it in a list of disturbing films and I was really impressed and affected by it. Supposely a true story, this comes from Uwe Boll, a director much hated , but hey this film is very well done. This is powerful and violent, not exactly horror but I found it much more effective and unpleasant than some of the goriest horror films.

Misery (1990)

Well this is a classic, a film that got kathy Bates wide recognition and one of the best King transferred to film. one of the most disturbing and well played bad guys in the history of cinema.

A Serbian Film (2010)

I mentioned this in the opening. Seriously, this is a film that lifts the boundaries of what's extreme and what's not, what has been done before and what not. This film should have been more famous for what it is, but stays relatively unknown, wheareas the Centipede , a somewhat joke-film is known by your next average Joe. By far this is the sickest, the most extreme horror film I have ever seen. The degree of dirtiness i felt while watching is beyond words, but its was different from both "men behind the sun" or even "Grotesque" coldness and the american Saw and Hostel. A definate future cult classic, "A Serbian film" is so difficult to review: the production values and acting are pretty good, it's almost an arty film. Yet it's one of the most extreme flicks even realised, breaking a barrier or two, pioneering the some of the sickest scenes ever captured on film.

Hellraiser & Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1987-1988)

I saw these in a tender age, but they still pack a punch today. Despite only the first being directed from Clive Barker, the two first films of the saga roll as a single film, sharing more or less the same atmosphere and actors. part 2 is much gorier and fill of disturbing scenes. For both personal reasons but admittedly featuring some of the most striking horror scenes ever, these two films will be always remembered by horror fans as two of the most hardcore horror ever. two semi-decent sequels followed and then the downhill began for a saga that even the fans now hate!!

The Fly (1986)

Another shocker from my early childhood. Lot of people have seen this film but lots of them have subconsciosly forgot. Few know that this film, considered one of the most effective horror/thrillers of all time (or should I say sci-fi/horror?) is a remake of a 50s film. Jeff Goldblum in one of the most memorable roles ever gives top notch performance and Cronenberg creates another masterpiece. Definately one of the most disturbing films of all time and one of the best horror films on the list.

The Hills run red (2009)

Following the recent production of the torture porn subgenre, I watched several torture horror I did not like or that had no redeeming factors. But I found this among the lot and I quite liked it to be honest! Its a refreshing take and plot and it manages to be heavy and disturbing without taking itself too much seriously which is by itself a hard task.

****

there are difinately more of these, and several more inbetween...

I would like to hear more suggestions and stories about movies that disturbed you and affected you how and why...

*****

Me personally I would not put the awesome Videodrome to this list, not that its not disturbing, but because its so much more, beyond disturbing and graphic.

Also, I would not put any of Andreas Schnaas splatters of the "Violent Shit" fame on the list, because they lack everything all those films presented here have: a character the uniqueness the originality, let alone production values. But I have to admit, the name is still of the greatest. Well there's only one film name that's better than Violent Shit and that's "Surf Nazis Must Die" , but this is another story.

I will mention some german film (s) for my list. Can you guess which?

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